The problem of improper forming of a baby's heart while in the mother's womb can result in various heart complications for an individual, said the National Heart Institute's (IJN) Head of Pediatric and Congenital Heart Centre, Dr.Hasri Samion.

"Numerous factors such as unhealthy lifestyle and smoking are main contributors to the complication and IJN provides treatment and services to overcome the problem," he said.

A total 1,800 to 2,000 cases involving heart diseases were reportedly received each month by IJN since five years ago, and of the total, 60 per cent were children under 12 years.

He said this during a ceremony to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Myprihatin Foundation and IJN Foundation here on Thursday.

The collaboration is aimed at helping heart patients, aged one-day to 17 years old, from poor families, to receive treatment and surgeries at IJN.